The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-01-13
must lssppsst . such trash as lays round the

hiuss ssA)ecO " sucn tr1sh as lays round the
Barr &
"A burst OF laughter from the men followed
this unfortunate exposure. Whether it was
overheard in the kitchen, or whether the Old
Mans iratc companion had just then ex-
hausted all other modes of expressing, her
contemptuous indignation cannot say, but
back door was suddenly slammed with
great violence. y moment later and the Old
Man reappsured, happily unconscious of the
cause of the late hilarious oulburst, and
smiled blandly
4 @Thc old woman thought she'd Jest ran
over to Mrs Mcl'aaldens for a sociabie call. ~
he explained, with jaunty Indifference, as he
took seat at the board.
Oddly enough, it needed this u,Itoward in
eident to relieve the embarrassment that was
beginning to be felt by tho party, and their
natural audaeity returned with their host. 1
do not propose to record tis conviyiaIities CT
that evening. The inquisitive reader will &c
ccpt the statement that the conversation was
characterized by the same intellectual exalta-
ton, The same cautious reverence, tho same
fastidious delicacy, tho same rhetorical pre-
cision and the same logical and coherent dis
couTS Somewhat later in the evening which
distinguish similar gatherings of the niascii-
line sex in more civilized localities and under
more favorable auspices. No glasses were
broken, in the absence of any; 10 liquor
was usciessly split on floor or table, in the
scarcity of that article.
1t was nearly midnight when the festivities
were Interrupted. "Husli," said Dick ,Bulien,
Eoldiug UP his band. Il ras the querulous
voice of Johnny from Lis adjacent closet:
10, dadp a.a-----.s------- E5ss'1-s-a
The Old Man arose hurriedly and iisap-
pealed in the closet Presently he reappeared.
His rheumatiz is coming Oil aGin bad" ho
explained, sand be wants rubbin'." He lifted
the dcmiiohn Of whisky from tie table and
shook it. 1t was empty. Dick Bullen put
down bis tin cup with an embarrassed laugh.
So did the others. The Old Man examined
their contents and said, hopefully: "Ireckon
9 that's. enough; he don't need much. You
hold on all o you for spell, and I'll be
back" and vanished in the closet with an old
fGEncl shirt antl the whisky. The door closed
but inperfcctly, and the following dialogue
was distinctly audible;
"NOw, sonny, whar does she ache worstp
Sometimes ever yer and sometimes Under
yer; but it's most powerful from yer 10 yer.
Rub yer, dad" i sr...s-..
4 silence seemed to Indicate a brisk rub
bling. Then johnny: ra.
"Hevin' a good time out yer, dad!"
ayes, sonny" ".
"To-morrer's Chrisn,iss, amt it.' Ga,=ag...
"Ies, sonny. How does she feel now"
Better. Rub little furdcr down. Eot's
ChrismiSs, anyway: WOt'S il all about"
80, it's II day"
This exhaustive definition was apparently
satisfactory, for there was silent interval
Of rubbing. Presently Johnny again:
"Mar SCI that everywhere else but yer
everybody gives things to everybody Chris
miss, and then she jtst waded inter you. She
says thar's a man they call Sandy Claws. not
a white man, you know, but q kind
% Chinernn, comes down the ycliinbley
night aforc Chrsmiss and gives things
to chillern--boys Ike me- Puts EN- IN tEeii.
butcs. Ihet's what she tried to play upon
me. Easy ROW, Pop whar are you rubrm'
to!-t!ict's E.iIc from tho place She jest
made Chat up didn't she. jest to ags,rrw ato
me ami you! Don't rub thar. + : Why,
dadF